Brown Roots - Could this just be from the brown Biobizz nutes I use?

This is my first attempt at DWC, and apart from a Cal def caused by incorrect pH, which is sorted, everything has been going pretty well. Most of the plant is a lovely forest green, and seems to growing at the rate I would expect.

I am using BioGrow, which is an organic feed with Molasses and stuff, and tints the water a light brown, the same shade as the roots. I'm worried it could be root slime, but to be honest, I wouldn't say they look slimey...well no more then soaking roots would anyway

Any help would be greatfully received

Anyone? PLease?

Hettyman said:

Anyone? PLease?

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One last bump...surely someone must have some idea?

The molasses and organic nutes will most likely kick your ass. We use synthetic nutes in DWC unless you are trying to do a bio bucket which would take an expert to pull off. Here are some things to keep in mind...

Can you take pics of the roots? If you are in veg and they aren't growing you might have root rot.

What is water temp? Needs to be less than 70*

Are you running bennies? Should be using aquashield or something similar.

Switch to synthetic nutes. General Hydro Flora, Dyna-Gro, etc...

Make sure buckets are 100% light proof. I insulate with 3 layers of reflectix (lowes/home depot) and it is fuckin huge for keeping my temps down and also guarantees light proof.

Thanks for that, they seem to be growing fine, and yes I am in veg, maybe for another week.

I literally have no money for food right now, so switching nutes isn't going to be likely. Temps here are way up, and the water temp is likely to be higher then that. Bennies I guess are beneficials, which I will do some research into, so far all I use is Biogrow and Hesi Power Zyme.

Definitely blacked out properly in there though.

Really appreciate your input, i'll try and get some pics of the roots that actually show enough detail

Hettyman said:

Thanks for that, they seem to be growing fine, and yes I am in veg, maybe for another week.

I literally have no money for food right now, so switching nutes isn't going to be likely. Temps here are way up, and the water temp is likely to be higher then that. Bennies I guess are beneficials, which I will do some research into, so far all I use is Biogrow and Hesi Power Zyme.

Definitely blacked out properly in there though.

Really appreciate your input, i'll try and get some pics of the roots that actually show enough detail

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Also got my first DWC bucket going. Thinking of gutting my cooler box lol... Far as I've been reading it's tricky stuff and anything but fluffy white roots is not good... Subbed up here so I can see what you get up to, learn from a peer likes
Now I have only NFT left and I've tried everything

Use H202 to fix and upgrade your air pump, your roots are mostly drowning. Your plants look too young to be developing this problem. If you dont fix it in the next few days you will lose the plants. use a 2ml of 10% per liter.

I just came back from a mate's house, spent some time looking over his DWC buckets and talking a bit. He also reckoned organic nutes are a bad idea... A tip he gave me is to home-insulate the res with some glasswool and a double layer of sisalation, keeps res temps down quite a bit. Also recommended the instant you see brownish roots, add 1ml per litre of 50 volume H2O2. Fresh res water once a week and scrub res then too.

His plants look AMAZING I'm going to take all his advice, maybe it helps you out also.

h2o2 isn't going to do shit, also he said he has no money; he needs to discontinue using organic nutes, or just transplant to soil. You can probably dig up some decent soil for free, and use your organic nutes without having to buy new nutes, ph meters etc. Water temp and ph is a big deal in dwc.

I do not think you will have any success with your current set up (heat + organics = sadface), and if you have no money to get what you need you should really consider a new grow style. I find DWC is not very forgiving if you don't have the basic knowledge and money to stay on top of it.

Malevolence said:

h2o2 isn't going to do shit, also he said he has no money; he needs to discontinue using organic nutes, or just transplant to soil. You can probably dig up some decent soil for free, and use your organic nutes without having to buy new nutes, ph meters etc. Water temp and ph is a big deal in dwc.

I do not think you will have any success with your current set up (heat + organics = sadface), and if you have no money to get what you need you should really consider a new grow style. I find DWC is not very forgiving if you don't have the basic knowledge and money to stay on top of it.

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I found this to be true of most indoor hydro. Had an emergency 3 weeks ago with my pH meter's probe getting screwed up. Had to replace it and deal with using litmus paper for the 3 days it took to arrive (I live in an outlying area no convenient hydro stores).

Anyhow bro, I was just sharing what I had just learned, sorry it couldn't help but if I look at the advice I shared me and you are saying the same thing, I was just being nicer about it that's all.

Myself, I'm taking it easy, just one big bucket to train myself with if I can run it for 12 weeks then I'll expand. Got it kickin for 2 days now res temp is 19 C (66F) pH 5.8 EC 1.4, 40 litre res (10.5 gallon) with two small airpumps and stones on splitter cable, 4 stones total. Ever part of the surface is bubbling.

I'm already in love with this little system. Roots going CRAZY. Never seen so much happen in two short days. Feeling very positive about it. And because I can see how nicely it works I can only wish the same success for other guys. Perhaps he finds the bucks, almost month end a quick little loan might just save the day?...

I wasn't really directing any hate towards anyone or trying to be a hardass... I just naturally cuss a lot.

I did not notice anything out of line.
I did like the advice.
He's done enough to have it in his mind now a little longer & it will be in his blood.
I think that's about the time we become addicted to the tiny bubbles going 'round in the bucket.
That's where the dreams come from.Peace
GL

Malevolence said:

I wasn't really directing any hate towards anyone or trying to be a hardass... I just naturally cuss a lot.

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lol guess I've been on too many threads with UB around my bad

Well sorry I dropped the ball on this thread, been at a new job on a production line, screwing bottle tops on by hand, thousands per day....yay me!!

I also saw no hate or agro, and appreciate ppls input. Malevolance, don't fucking cuss so much, ppl can get fucking upset, you fucking cock sucking prick monkey ...oh and my Organics are getting used up nicely on my soil grow.

For the record, just over a week ago I managed to buy some H2o2, and some Dutch pro synth nutes, without going hungry myself. Sprayed the roots off with the new solution of synths and Hydro-perox, really thorough res clean using a stronger concentration of H202 (removing the plant first, and rinsing thoroughly). Since then, I flipped a few days later, to come on at midnight off at midday, so the temps were cooler. Only problem was, I kept passing out before 12, and having to throw some feed and H202 together in the morning, and whack it in, without really thinking. Took some time to pull it out and check today, the roots are much better, some are getting like speaker cable, and just look at this bitch.....what I thought may have been a write-off, is doing really well.

Thanks again for all the RIU help and advice guys

PS - i wrote this post before realsing that my card reader is broke, and can't add a pic, but trust me, she is doing ok

Here we are....

Thats a 5 litres bottle, and a 10 litre bucket for size

Hettyman said:

Here we are....

Thats a 5 litres bottle, and a 10 litre bucket for size

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Glad it seems you're back on track by the look of things. Best piece of advice I can give to u is to keep it simple. Dwc should be (once everyting is dialed in properly) an effortless task. Once a week I change my res with a full feeding of GH 3 part series. Everyday in between I top off with tap water. That's it. Don't over think it and don't overcompensate.

Oh, thought of another thing...that plant is fucking bushy...is she still in veg? If so, what do u plan on using as a light source for flowering?

Looks good as fuck, going to be a tree if it's still in veg... letting your water level drop too low will create thick corded roots.

IN that pic it was 1 week after flip, and it has gotten a fair bit bigger , but as it's an INdi dominant strain, it seems to have slowed on growing after just over 2 weeks from flip. It runs low on water sometmies, just cos it uses so much, 2-3 litres a day.

It has the lion share of a 400, in a 3x3 tent, and should be fine for space and light if it holds up. I have a few 30w 2700k CFL,s, and hope to hang one either side of it to help a bit lower down. Thinking of pruning some of the internal stems/branches, as they won't get much light, but never sure when to do this without out being too late, or too early. I'm thinking somewhere around now would be good.

Once again thanks for your help